Two men were charged on Feb. 6 with first degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and two counts of tampering with evidence after they allegedly stabbed a man to death.
According to the arrest affidavit, trouble started brewing at a local bar in the early morning hours of Feb. 4.
Bryland Skeets, 33, Lindy Billy III, 23, and a woman were knocking back some drinks at Sports Page Lounge, 1400 S. Second St. The three of them were reportedly “pretty” drunk, and were arguing, according to the affidavit.
Sometime during the morning, the woman hanging out with the two men struck up a conversation with Shawn Kinlicheenie, 30, of Fort Defiance, Ariz. The affidavit states that the woman decided to leave Sports Page with Kinlichenie in his green truck, which reportedly upset Skeets.
The two men then decided to follow the couple to their next location — the Maverick Gas Station, 3540 E. Historic Hwy. 66.
At the gas station, Skeets and the woman got out of their respective vehicles and began arguing with one another. Verbal pandemonium ensued as Skeets accused the woman of having sex with Kinlicheenie enroute to the gas station.
The situation escalated towards violence when Skeets punched Kinlicheenie. From there, Kinlicheenie drove his truck to the back of the gas station to get away from the two men.
In an interview with GPD officers, Billy said that after Skeets finished arguing with the woman and she departed from the scene, he hopped back in the ride and told Billy to drive to the back of the gas station. According to Billy, Skeets jumped out of the vehicle, reached into the green truck, and stabbed Kinlicheenie in the side.
At first, Billy said he didn’t stab Kinlicheenie, and that he had only sliced one of the green truck’s tires, but he eventually admitted that he had also stabbed the victim. He said Skeets threatened him by saying he would be killed the next day if he didn’t do as he said.
Kinlicheenie died at the scene.
Skeets and Billy had their first appearance in Magistrate Court Feb. 6. Both cases were bound to District Court Feb. 8.
Staff Reports